Integrity Commissioner

The City of Orillia adopted a Code of Conduct on March 5, 2012, establishing ethical standards for Members of Councils and Committees in accordance with provincial legislation.

The Integrity Commissioner ensures compliance with the Code of Conduct and is responsible for:

• Educating Members of Council on their duties and obligations under the Code.
• Providing advice to Members of Council on Code-related matters.
• Investigating alleged breaches of the Code.
• Reporting annually to Council on their activities.

If a complaint is filed, the Integrity Commissioner submits a report to Council outlining the violations made and any recommendations.  Reports from the Integrity Commissioner are linked below.

• Complaint Investigation Report – March 2, 2020

Complaints resolved within the Information Complaint Procedure do not result in reports to Council but may be noted in the Integrity Commissioner’s annual report.

If you believe a Council or Committee member has violated the Code of Conduct, a complaint may be submitted within six months of the alleged breach. The process includes both information and formal complaint options.

1. Informal Complaint Process

Before filing a formal complaint, individuals are encouraged to attempt to resolve the concerns directly with the member. Steps include:

• Advising the member of the issue.
• Encouraging the member to stop the behaviour.
• Documenting interactions and responses.
• Proceeding with a Formal Complaint if the issue remains unresolved.

2. Formal Complaint Process

All formal complaints must be submitted using the City’s Formal Complaint Form/Affidavit. The complaint must include:

• A description of the alleged violation.
• Supporting evidence and witness details.
• The name of the member involved, date, time, and location of the incident.

Complaints must be submitted to the City Clerk, who will forward them to the Integrity Commissioner for review. The Integrity Commissioner may request additional information before proceeding.